Tractor with six driven wheels



June 16, 1953 w. BREWER, JR

TRACTOR WITH SIX DRIVEN WHEELS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 William L. Brewer, Jr:

INVENTOR.

June 16, 1953 w. L. BREWER, JR 2,642,144

TRACTOR WITH SIX DRIVEN WHEELS Filed Aug. 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

William L Brewer, Jn

IN V EN TOR.

June 16, 1953 w. L. BREWER, JR

TRACTOR WITH S-IX DRIVEN WHEELS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 5, 1948 F I w William L. R r QJr ud wq 3% June 16, 1953 w. L. BREWER, JR 2,642,144

TRACTOR wrm SIX DRIVEN WHEELS Filed Aug. 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.6.

Fig. 7.

William L. Brewer Jr. INVENTOR.

Mam

June 16, 1953 w. L. BREWER, JR 2,642,144

TRACTOR WITH SIX DRIVEN WHEELS Filed Aug. 5, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INTERNAL COMBUSTION Fig 8.

enema I GEAR TRANSMISSION "v" TYPE HYDRAU LIC PUMP 2 DISTRIBUTING DISTRIBUTING VALVE AL NG VALVE 2 2 RESERVOIR VA LV E HYDRAULIC MoToR William 1.. Brewer; Jr?

IN VEN TOR.

I the arrows;

Patented June 16, 1953 a uumzo STATES PATENT 4 OFFICE A QR are SIX D VEN W EELS William L. Brewer, J r., Port Townsend, v Application August 5, 1948, SerialNo. 42,702 r each of the arms.

Another object 01' this invention is to drivingly mount a pair of wheeled units on the fluid motor assembly, which wheeled units cooperate with thesaid.Wheelassemblies to form a, chassis of a vehicle.

Another object of this invention is to drive the Whee ed un ts and ssem l es y means of a semirrigid or flexible .drive mechanism, which includes chains, operatively driven by the fluid motor, and trained arou d Suitable geal S'IJIQ- vided on the wheel assemblies.

7 clai (01. 130 22) Another object of'lthis invention is to supply an axle structure, in connection with the wheel assemblies which includes ,afioating axle compensating .ior various exigellfiifis such, asfienderingthe vehicle smoothly operative asto the drive mechanism, thereof ov'erl'rough terrain, etc.

Ancillary objects [and features of'noveIty will beoom'eapparent to those skilled in the art, in

following. the description of the preferred form of thevinvention, illustrated the ,accompany-' I ing drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an 'elevational side view of the preferred form of the invention;

Figure '2 is a plan viewo on the line 2-2.,o'f Figure 1;

illtheinvention, taken I Figure'3 isan enlargedelevational view taken -on the line 3-.-,3 of Figure l,flportions being broken away in section to illustrate details of construction and showing particularlyftheflwheel assembly and unit structures; s

Figure 4 isasectional view takensubstantially on a line .4--4 of Figure 2 and in the, direction ,of

Figure '5 is a sectional View illustrating details of construction .and taken, substantially on a line 5-5 .of Figure 2 randin the directionjof the arrows; I

Figure 6 is a. plan view oilthe fluidmotor, portions being broken away in s'ectionto. illustrate details of construction;

Figure '7 is anenlarged detail ofccnstructidn showing the brake mechanism'usedlin conjunction with and.forming, -a'f' part of the invention;

Figure 8 surgeries si ve-Win more clearly understood after 2 fluid flow system and various pertinent elements therein, and,

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing a detail of construction and illustrative of the cam angle changing device in'the pump. r This'invention has been developed in order to provide a device which is smoothly ope'rativedeparting from'the conventional principles of vehicles and more "specifically of tractors ors-other types of farm towing'de'vices'. With the advent.

of fluid actuated systems 'for'driving or motivating vehicles and specifically, with the'advent of such mechanisms having proved'practical operability, various developments have been accomplished in the line of tractors for farm and other use' Such a'development. is incorporated in a preferred form of the" present invention.

It hasbeen foun'dthat by means of the usual gears, torque tubes and other. usual means of actuatinga tractor-which of necessity includes transmissions; differentials, etc., it has'been impractical to'pivota'lly mount wheel assemblies of a tractor. Althoug'h'not impossible, it is substantially s'o'and'yery impractical to devise a drive mechanism of purely mechanical elements of rigid typeyet have various wheel assemblies freely'mounted for pivotal or swinging movement iniatractor.

' Accordingly, by means of the fluid flow system illustrated in-Figure 8', it ispossible to swingingly support-front and rear wheel assemblies of the tractor, t obviate conventional wheel brakes and realize variousiben'eficial results in the practical operation of the invention.

r 1 Attention is first directed to Figure '8 wherein theifluid flow system isdillustrated diagramumatically. The specific struc'tureof the actual illustrated embodiment of the invention willbe having/considered the .fluidfiow; system which .forms a portion of thetinvention. engine .10 such .as the diesel or gasolineifired typetis shown diagrammatically. Through. the medium of a gear transmission seen fatilzga vstypeihydraulicpump"l4 is connected Pre sure mainf .withfthe engine.

A hydraulic fiuid motor I5 is supplied in the systemia'nd actually" .includes two individual units; each having ahousing and connected together by a common member which constitutes "a spindle 82. Thishydraulic motorifi hasvarious conduits for inlet and exhau tof fluid under The s idvarious' conduits includeoutleti, lines ti 'elr .Wh qhare @r mi v lv'a s ci'at h Pum 11 1,, e a'ch off which I Such bypasses are formed of two sections with each other by means of a common housing and as is seen in Figure 6 the fluid motor is of the reciprocatory type. The second section of the fluid motor which is in has an identical system .tion therein. A second her 58.

. type hydraulic conventional intermediate structure exclusive of a particular cam shaft angle regulating mechain the said lines 18 and through the bypass motor operative.

terminates in a distributing valve 22 and 24 respectively. The distributing valves are manually operative in order to direct fluid from the pump in selected travels and through selected conduits.

Considering first the conduit 28 and its distributing valve 24, it will be seen that fluid is permitted to flow through the conduit or line 26 and through branch lines 28 and 30 respectively which communicate with the conduit 26. Smaller lines (unnumbered) terminate in the valve chambers 32, 34, 3'6, and 38 respectively.

A return line 48 is associated with the inlet side of the distributing valve 24 and has branch lines 42 and 44 respectively connected therewith. These branch lines 42 and 44 have smaller unnumbered lines extending therefrom and termimatin in the valve chambers.

Attention is directed to Figure 6 wherein 'a number of bypasses, each of which is indicated 'at 48, extend from the cylinders of the fluid motor to one portion of each valve chamber. necessary-for the operation of the invention and more specifically for the operation of the fluid flow system.

As stated above the fluid motor is actually each integrally associated itself an independently operative section of the fluid motor, of conduits associated therewith and associated with the distributing valve 22.

A first bypass 50 connects the outlet conduits l8 and of the pump l4-and has an equalizing valve 52 to serve its usual and conventional funcbypass 54 connects the distributing valves 22 and 24 and has a pipe or conduit 56 in communication therewith and in communication with a reservoir or plenum cham- Another conduit 68 extends from the reservoir or plenum chamber to the inlet of the main hydraulic pump.

In operation the fluid flow system is as follows: Torque from the engine and through the gear transmission actuates the crank shaft of the V- pump. By means of usual and nism, fluid is urged under pressure through the conduits l8 and 20 and also through pressure domes 62 and 64 respectively which are provided 28. As the fluid enters the distributing valve 24 and the distributing valve 22, dependin upon how the core of the distributing valve is set, the fluid will flow througheach of the lines 26 which are. associated with each individual unit of the hydraulic or fluid motor. When the distributing valves are so set that fluid is fed under pressure to both units of the fluid motor, the line of flow is obviously into the respective units of the fluid motor, through the return lines 40, thence 54, line or pipe 56 into the reservoir 58 thence through the conduitfill and into the inlet side of the V-type hydraulic pump for recirculation.

However, when one of the valves, 22 for example, is in the closed position, fluid will extend only through the distributing valve 24 thereby rendering only one unit of the fluid Accordingly, the return flow extends through the bypass54 and into the reservoir 58 for recirculation. Under such condi-' 4,- tions as will appear subsequently the wheels of the vehicle which are actuated by the one operative unit of the fluid motor will tend and actually turn the entire vehicle, while the other wheels serve as idlers.

To reverse the direction of the tractor, fluid flow in the lines 26 and 40 is transposed by proper manipulation of the valves 22 and 24 (simultaneously).

'Referring now to Figure 1 it will be seen that a tractor is shown and generally indicated at 66. This tractor is a typical type vehicle wherein the present invention resides. Various appurtenances contiguous to conventional tractors may be used such as the seat indicated at 68, the

lamp indicated at 69 and other well known devices. Noting now Figure 2 which is in reality a view of the tractor shown in Figure l in plan with the body removed, it will be seen that four wheel assemblies indicated at 10,12, 14, and 16 are swingingly mounted on the spindle 82 of the fluid motor by means of individual arms 84, 86, 88, and 98 respectively. The innermost ends of the arms have cap type bearings, each of which is indicated at 92 formed thereon thereby forming a pivotal connection between the spindle 82 and the said arms. Inspecting the arm 84 in detail it will be seen that one end thereof carries a wheel assembly 18 while the other end is swingingly mounted on the spindle 82. A gear box 94 is interposed between the wheel assembly 10 and the pivoted end of the arm 84 and has a beam 96 secured thereto. This beam is pivoted for movement with the arm 84 at a position seen in Figure 3 and which is adjacent and around the power takeoff assembly for the wheel unit, 88. The opposite side of the tractor and rear of the tractor is formed in an identical manner. Thus, upon movement of the vehicle over an obstacle each of the wheel assemblies is permitted to be raised and depressed for the purpose of allowin the tractor to follow the terrain and its irregularities relatively smoothly.

Attention is now directed to Figure 3 which is illustrative of specific detail of each wheel assembly and each wheel unit. First taking the assemblies and specifically the assembly '14 it will be seen that the beam 98 which is identical to the beam 96 with a certain small exception, is in reality a hollow type member accommodating a chain I08. This chain extends around a sprocket type gear I82 closely associated with the Wheel assembly 14. This gear 82 is attached to a peripheral flange 184 of a sleeve type hub 106 for rotation therewith. Screws or the like may be used in this attaching connection. Further, an oil seal I88 of conventional description may be used in association with the sleeve type hub.

An end cap H0 is secured to the said sleeve type hub thereby defining a closed chamber which accommodates anti-friction bearings H2 and H4 respectively. On the inner race of the antifriction bearings there is supplied a hollow shaft- H6 which has a flange H8 at the end thereof rigidly'attached to the beam 98 through the medium of screws. The arm 88 being also attached to this beam by means of screws has the said hollow shaft llt movable therewith, upon swinging movement of the arm 88 about the spindle 82 as an axis.

If it is found desirable a spindle l28 may be supplied within the hollow shaft and attached to the beam 98 for rigidity purposes.

The said sleeve type hub ['86 has a peripheral .5 7 flange .122 integral therewith -'accominodating wheel lugs I24. The .saidwheel lugs extend ethrough suitableapertures provided in the wheel apparent that the ,removalgof wheels for various and sundry purposes is extremely simple, it :req i ne nly the removal the lugs 02.4..

It is appreciatedthat if the chain or other semi-rigid driving .member :I-llfl i Eli-v.6, rotation will be imparted to the sleevetypehub m6 rides on the anti-friction bearings of, the hollow shaft IIB. turn axially rotates the wheels in each assembly.

Referring now to the swheeled unit, shown at 8.0, t s appreciated that hefluidirnotor 11B clearly discloses .an internally s lined drive shaft vIfiB "extending from the side thereof. This sp'l-ine.d drive shaft seats on the inner race qfan :antifriction bearing I32 of conventional description. The said anti-triction-hearing also-rests means .of its outer race on a boss I34 formed in the housing of the fluid-motor I5.

Attached to the boss I 34 bymeansaofazfla lge I36 and suitable bolts,.is ahollow-shaft lfl. This hollow shaft has afioating axle I40 .slidablyreceived therein which-has splinesatr theend thereof. These splines ,fit in thelsaidshollow-power takeoii shaft I and are matched in such a manner whereby the 'said shaft I40 ;may simp y be slidably received therein, Theendoftheshaft I40. opposite the saidsplines has a cap I d l -either integral therewith or rigidly secured thereto, which is in turn securedto .azsleeve-type. hub =I 44. The said above typehub has a lugreceiving flange I46 integral therewith and a-plurality of lugs I48 in suitable apertures, which are threaded,

supplied for that purpose. Wheel metallic; por- .tions I50 and I52 respectively are maintained firmly in place on the flange I46 b means of I the said lugs penetrating suitableaperturesprovided therein. I v

The, innermost. endof the said sleeve typ h b I44 has aflange I54 formed integral therewith in order to accommodate a pair of-gearsfifi-and I53 respectively through the intermediate structure of the common hub. of vIcoth:o f said. gears.

The inermost portion. of thelbeam 9 8 is termed as a small housing covering the gear I56 but spaced fromthe-gear I58. .An anti-friction bearing I 6I isinterposed.betweenthis end ofthe beam .98and the gear common huh -I 60. The said semirigid drivingelement I00 which in.this;.ca. .e is a chain not ,onlyrextends around thegear I0 2 in the wheel assembly -'I;4 but, also around the, gear I 56 oi? the wheel unit\8i0. Consequently, torque derived from the fluid motor is imparted to ,the shaft I40, through thesleeve-type .hub I44 and to the wheels of the wheeled unit. ,Also rotatable with the sleeve type hub. I.44..is a common hub for both gears I56 and I 58.. Accordingly, the said chain -"I00 is, actuatedsimultaneously with the wheel .unit 'andit. necessarily follows thatthexwheel assembly; 14 .will. also I Ice-actuate It will be noted at -,th'iS; point "that whenever ,3 it is found desirable conventional ,oil seals and gasket may be supplied'suchgas betweenuthagea-rs I 56 I and I58. Here; aigbank-iof 0115515311" :wipersa I661- are attached :to the ends-of thebeams 96 :and 9.8irespectively.

since .tDeIbeamSlB'S a'IId 98-respe'ctive1y mustbe pivotally-v movable a pluralityof' ball-bearings I68 portion thereof.

acac a wheekassembly 10, through the utility of a chain 4:10 which :is -identical to the saidchain I 0 0. Since the gears I56 and .158 .316 formed .as an integral unit-it islapparent that the said :front wheelas- .sembly '10 :and the said back wheel assembly '14 moves simultaneouslyand at the same speed.

- Referring to Figure ;4 it will be seen that the :;-arms 18B .and '90 have guide members Illa and I76 respectively. attached thereto. These guidememhersare .in the formof plates. Each arm .64 86, 8 endtll respectively has one of these plates thereon and as :is seen in Figure .2 pairs of said plates engage each :other for sliding contact,

thus serving the purpose to limit or restrict the .travel 0f the. arms :to that .of pivotal movement am unt the scam 180. :is moved: therewith. It i apparent that ,if a loose. is provided between th q am i130 and the central openin :of 'thee ar I132, the said gear is :raised and lowered thereby t ht n n orl osenin the chain as desir d.

Noting Figure 7' it will he seen that: one of the small shafts 1II8;has a ikeyway thereinand av pin I,84.- seated-,in.- said keyway.v This pin also seats irnza brake drum- I86-whichihas abrake band I88 extending :therearound and anchored at 'thetop This brake band .is of :conventional character-including linings. The ends :ofuthsband I98 have a pin I90-extending therethroughan-da spring I92 interposed therebetween. Conventional brake actuation type hydraulic cylinder I has itspistonyrodattached by means of a pivotal cdnnection.I96-to'therod I90. Suitable; lock nuts I 98 are secured -to the ;rod

.I:90.- "and bear onone-of the .endsofithabrakeband 1:8,,8. Upon movement of -the;rod I90 it .is apparent that :the brake: band endengages; therlcck nuts "thereby tightening the brake, "band on the drum, pifgthe-opposite end of the. brake band is anchored firmly. :In- :order to so anchor the 'brake band end in question, alsmall bracket200 isrsuitably positioned on the'pertinent: beam. and

has the rod" I90 extending therethrough. Lock :nut'sx202'may be attached-adjacent the :end of the; rod I90 *thereby' forming an adjustment.

Suitablehoses 204 andzzodmay'be associated with e the cylinderIM in order. :to energize the brake actuation cylinder.

Noting Figure'ifi it-willbeseen that --t-he fluid ing rods 2I2 having piston heads 2 I I thereonare --reciprocativel'ypositioned in cylinders 2"). Ad-

jacent each cylinder is one: of the. valve chamber stacks-seen incFigu s Mounted on" the crank shaft is-a number not L'may' be --su'pplied= ina--suitablerecess and=groove "foams; each of which is-aeen at '22 I.-'8.= and; push Thus, by

rods 220 have one .end of each thereof slidably received on the cams. The oposite end of the push rods engage and actuate a valve head 222 which has a port 224 therein. There is also provided a port 226 adjacent the upper portion of each cylinder in order to allow ingress and egress of fluid from the cylinder.

During a single cycle of operation of the fluid motor, the valves (due to the shapes of the cams) are urged in the port 226 opening and closing position thereby allowing the fluid to be introduced into the cylinder and exhausted therefrom by normal operation of the pistons. Of course, suitable springs 230 may be used in conjunction with the valves in order to maintain the push rods firmly engaged with the surfaces of the cams H8 and in order that the valve heads 222 may react on and against'the springs.

In reality each valve stack is divided into two valve chambers there being two valves for each cylinder in order that the operation of the fluid motor may be substantially identical to an ordinary reciprocating type pump.

Referring now again to the main pump which is of the V-type and which is seen at I4 there is provided a cam shaft 234, and of course a crank shaft as well as pistons and valves. The said crank shaft, cam shaft, valves and pistons are all conventional in this type of pump, however, there is provided manually operative means for regulating the angle of the crank shaft and cam shaft relative to each other. By such adjustment the timing of the valves is selectively regulated thereby rendering the pump one which has a variable output as controlled by the link 236.

The said cam shaft 234 is mounted in suitable bearing supports 238 and 240 respectively which is an integral part of the pump [4 and has in its makeup a sleeve 242 with a central shaft 244 concentric therewith. The said central shaft 244 has a gear 246 at one end thereof enmeshed with the second gear 248, the gears forming a portion of the timing mechanism, correlating the actuation of the crank shaft (unshown) of the pump [4 and the cam shaft.

A sleeve 256 having a groove 252 extending peripherally therearound adjacent but not at one I end thereof is threadedly received on an externally threaded collar 254 of the sleeve 242. This externally threaded'collar has its threads angularly disposed andthe said sleeve has abore and counterbore, the counterbore being complementally threaded at 256. The said bore of the sleeve is splined as seen at 258 in order to accommodate the splines of the shaft 244.

It is readily appreciated that upon sliding movement of the sleeve 250 axially relative to the central shaft 244, the sleeve 242 which has the cams 26B thereon will be rotated without movement of the central shaft 244.

The means for slidably actuating the said sleeve 25!! is seen particularly well in Figures 1 and 9 as inclusive of a bifurcated link'262 mounted on a suitable pivotpin 264 and having a pin (unnumbered) therein which is received in the said groove 252. At the end opposite the bifurcations there is a pivotal connection for the said link 236 which renders it possible to axially slide the sleeve 250 upon reciprocatory movement of the link or rod 236.

By the various manipulations described in conjunction with the fluid flowapparatus, the. wheel assemblies and units may be set in motion in order to operate the vehicle'or; tractor. One

bank ofwheels maybe stopped in order to turn the-vehicle through the medium of the brake mechanism described hereinbefore. Further, the slack in the chains forming. a portion of the drive mechanism may be taken up by means of the eccentrically mounted rotatable member also described above. The speed of the entire vehicle is regulated by adjustment of the cam angle relative to the crank shaft angle as also described.

From the foregoing it is apparent that one embodiment of the invention is set forth. However, it is within the purview of the present invention to utilize various other expedients and accordingly limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: I

1. In a vehicle, a chassis which includes a motor assembly, said motor assembly including two units which are transversely spaced apart and rigidly connected at their inner sides by a horizontal transverse extending spindle, each unit being encased in a housing, aligned transverse shafts extending from said units, a wheel assembly carried by each of said aligned shafts, arms extending fore and aft of the vehicle and pivotally mounted in a vertical plane at their inner ends on said spindle, and each arm having a wheel assembly at the outer end thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 and a beam operatively connected with the outer end of each arm and pivotally carried by said aligned shaft.

3. The combination of claim 1 and guide plates slidingly disposed on each other and secured to adjacent arms to guide the arms when they are pivotally actuated.

4. The combination of claim 1 and guide plates slidingly disposed on each other and secured to adjacent arms to guide the arms when they'are pivotally actuated to assist in preventing lateral displacement of said arms, and a beam operatively connected with the outer end of each arm and extending toward said motor assembly and pivotally carried by said aligned shafts.

5. The combination of claim 1 and a beam operatively connected with the outer end of each arm and pivotally carried by said aligned shafts, and means disposed in said beams drivingly connecting the Wheel assembly on each of said aligned shafts and the corresponding adjacent forward and rearward wheel assemblies carried by said arms.

6. The combination of claim land a beam 0peratively connected with the outer end of each arm and pivotally carried by aligned shafts, means disposed in said beams drivingly connecting the wheel assembly on each of said aligned shafts and the corersponding adjacent forward and rearward wheel assemblies carried by said arms and other means operatively connected with said arms for guiding said arms when they are pivotally moved.

7. In a vehicle, a chassis, a motor assembly comprising two motor units, each unit having a housing provided with a shaft extending from one end thereof, said shafts being in alignment with one another and transverse to the chassis, a spindle located intermediate said aligned shafts and connecting said housings together, said spindle holding said housing and said units transversely spaced apart and rigidly connected at their inner sides, curved arms secured at their inner ends to said spindle by a pivotal connection, said curved arms being pivotal in vertical planes, said curved arms extending fore and aft of the vehicle a. wheel assemblyfor each of said arms, each wheel assembly mounted at the outer extremity of each of said arms, a wheel unit disposed on each of said aligned shafts, each wheel unit being disposed between said wheel assemblies on said curved arms, means drivingly con- 'necting each of said units and its associated wheel assemblies, and a beam forming a'housing for said last mentioned means and carried by one of said arms and one of said aligned shafts.

' WILLIAM L. BREWER, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 651,158 Bergmann June 5, 1900 1,179,736 Manly Apr. 18, 1916 Number Number 

